Crime Solicitors

Consumer champion Which? has published details of fraud hotspots across the UK, based on police figures for fraud in those areas.

The October issue of Which? reveals that analysis of new figures from Action Fraud shows that Monmouthshire in South Wales is the top fraud hotspot in Britain.

Research shows that Monmouthshire has the highest incidences of three main types of fraud per 10,000 people, including computer software service fraud, advance fee fraud – and cheque, plastic card and online banking fraud.

Computer software service fraud is becoming more common and involves a bogus call from a fraudster claiming to be from a reputable computer software company, who requests that an individual downloads software to their computer. This turns out to contain viruses or software which enables others to hack into their computer (“malicious software”).

Bogus callers may also request credit card details to pay for software or to have a computer repaired remotely.

Advance fee fraud involves fees charged upfront for services which do not exist, including cold calls involving offers to reclaim PPI (Payment Protection Insurance) for customers – and even conveyancing services for which customers may pay a low initial fee, only for the scammers to disappear with their money.

Fraud relating to cheques, plastic cards and online banking include a wide range of scams, such as using stolen card numbers or cloning credit cards.

The average number of computer software services fraud cases in the UK is 2.5 per 10,000 people – however, in the county of Monmouthshire, the figure stands at 10.6 cases per 10,000 people.

Monmouthshire also has 7.8 cases of plastic card/online banking fraud per 10,000 people – compared with a national average of 2.5 cases; as well as 12.3 per 10,000 cases involving advance fee fraud, compared with a national average of 1.7 per 10,000 people.

Other fraud hotspots include Essex, where plastic card/online banking fraud runs at 5 cases per 10,000 people – twice the national average of 2.5 cases per 10,000 people.

In Gloucestershire, computer software services fraud runs at 3.8 cases per 10,000 people – compared with the national average of 2.5 cases per 10,000 people.

The fourth top fraud hotspot is the city of Durham, where advance fee fraud runs at 3.3 cases per 10,000 people – compared with the national average of 1.7 cases per 10,000 people.

Although police in Monmouthshire are unable to say why the county is a hotspot for certain types of fraud, it has been suggested that fraudsters may have obtained victims’ details via their post.

Fraudsters can operate outside UK jurisdiction – some bogus firms operating online may set up a phone line at a UK mailing address for appearance’s sake, while operating from another country.

So-called “boiler room scammers” – which rely on cold calling victims – can offer anything from plots of land for sale to investment opportunities and conveyancing services.

Anyone who receives an unsolicited call (“cold call”) is advised not to give the caller any personal information or financial information – and if in doubt, they should end the call and inform their bank or the police.

Advice for victims of fraud is available at Action Fraud (0300 123 2040) or www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Duncan Lewis Fraud Lawyers

Duncan Lewis fraud lawyers can advise at any stage of a criminal charge relating to fraud, including financial fraud, ponzi schemes, company fraud and boiler room scams.

Duncan Lewis fraud lawyers can also advise those charged with:

• Benefit fraud
• Blue Badge fraud
• Bogus marriages
• Conveyancing fraud
• Credit card fraud
• Housing fraud
• Identity theft
• Mortgage fraud
• Passport fraud
• Ticketing fraud
• Visa fraud.


For expert legal advice on all fraud charges, call Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers on 020 7923 4020.